Case Background
A misdialed international phone call brought Wilton police officers to a Connecticut home in May 2018. More than eight years later, the encounter reached a federal jury. Neelu Pal, a physician who represented herself, sued Wilton police officers, ambulance personnel, the Town of Wilton, and related entities. She alleged that officers injured her arm and retaliated against her for an earlier lawsuit. The Defendants denied wrongdoing. In 2021, the Court consolidated the case with a second Pal lawsuit, which added Norwalk Hospital. U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell presided over the trial.
Cause
According to the Amended Complaint, Pal was visiting a home on Sturges Ridge Road in Wilton on May 5, 2018. Her elderly mother tried to call a relative in India from a landline. The complaint stated that she mistakenly dialed “0-911” before the number, which triggered a 911 call.
Pal alleged that her husband told the 911 operator there was no emergency. The Wilton Defendants admitted only that the dispatcher heard what appeared to be a possible domestic incident.
Pal alleged that Officer Mark Canepari approached the rear of the home with what appeared to be a gun. She claimed that Canepari, Sergeant Arnault Baker, and Officer Brandon Harris pushed open the rear door. She stated that she angrily ordered them out and stepped onto the deck.
On the deck, Pal alleged, Harris twisted her right arm behind her back without reason. She claimed that Canepari and Harris then applied the handcuffs too tightly. While placing her in a police car, Canepari allegedly referenced her lawsuit. The complaint quoted him saying, “this is what happens when you sue us.” Pal stated that the Defendants in that earlier case, Pal v. Cipolla, received the summons one day before the incident.
Officers summoned an ambulance. According to the complaint, ambulance personnel Joseph Bryson, Drew Kennedy, and Harry Downs responded. Pal claimed that officers moved her to a gurney while she remained handcuffed. At her request, Sergeant Anna Tornello rode with her to the hospital, which later discharged her.
Pal further alleged that Canepari, Harris, and the ambulance crew wrote false reports. She claimed that those reports said she pushed officers, kicked police, and threatened to kill officers. She asserted that video recordings contradicted each statement.
Injury
Pal alleged that she suffered injuries to her right upper extremity. The complaint described contusions, bruising, swelling, and nerve injuries that had not fully resolved.
Pal described herself as a fully trained general surgeon who was right-hand dominant. She alleged that the injuries left her unable to safely perform office-based surgical procedures. She also claimed emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and nightmares. At trial, the Court admitted photographs of her hand, a Lyrica prescription, and her medical bills.
Damages
The Amended Complaint sought $4 million in compensatory damages, plus punitive damages, aggravated damages, fees, costs, and injunctive relief. The docket listed a demand amount of $101 million. Pal tied her losses to medical expenses, legal costs, and lost employment opportunities in her profession.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Neelu Pal
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Pro se
Defendant(s): Mark Canepari | Arnault Baker | Brandon Harris | John Lynch [Terminated: 03/30/2023] | Anna Tornello [Terminated: 03/30/2023] | Town of Wilton | Joseph Bryson | Drew Kennedy | Harry Downs | Wilton Volunteer Ambulance | Norwalk Hospital
Counsel for Defendant(s): James Newhall Tallberg | Andrew James Glass | David G. Hill | Sharon M. Baldwin | Michael Carreira [Terminated: 09/15/2022] | Patrick M. Mullins | Daniel H. Cotter
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
The operative pleadings asserted federal civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. They included retaliation, excessive force, unlawful search and seizure, abuse of process, conspiracy, and municipal liability. Pal also pleaded state-law claims for assault and battery, emotional distress, libel, defamation, and negligence.
On March 30, 2023, the Court granted summary judgment in part. Excessive force, assault and battery, and emotional distress claims survived against Canepari, Harris, and Baker. Libel and defamation claims survived against Canepari, and negligence survived against the Town. Lynch and Tornello were terminated as Defendants the same day. The remaining claims, including retaliation, did not proceed to trial.
Against the ambulance Defendants, assault, battery, and emotional distress claims survived based on an alleged sexual assault. Libel and defamation claims survived based on statements in reports and at the hospital. Vicarious liability claims against Norwalk Hospital and Wilton Volunteer Ambulance also survived.
The Wilton Defendants filed an interlocutory appeal. The Second Circuit dismissed Pal’s cross-appeal and, in October 2024, affirmed the District Court’s order.
Defense
The Wilton Defendants denied the core allegations. They stated that officers entered the home only briefly to investigate a possible domestic incident. They asserted that Pal repeatedly yelled at officers and used profanity. They also stated that her husband declined to provide information about the 911 call.
The Wilton Defendants admitted that Harris handcuffed Pal and that Canepari later removed the handcuffs. According to their answer, Baker told Tornello that Pal was not under arrest. He also said she appeared intoxicated and had pushed officers.
The Wilton Defendants raised qualified immunity and governmental immunity. They also argued comparative negligence and that the challenged statements were truthful and privileged.
The ambulance Defendants denied culpability. They raised qualified immunity, governmental immunity, and immunity under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-557b. They also asserted truth, privilege, comparative negligence, and failure to mitigate damages.
Jury Verdict
Jury selection took place on September 4, 2026, and evidence began on September 8. During trial, the Court denied Pal’s motions to disqualify defense counsel and the presiding judge. It also denied her motion for a mistrial.
On September 18, 2026, the jury found that Pal had not proven any claim by a preponderance of the evidence. It answered ‘No’ on every question it reached.
The jury rejected the excessive force claims against Canepari and Harris. It found that Baker did not fail to intervene. It cleared Canepari and Harris on assault and battery. It cleared all three officers on both emotional distress claims.
The jury also cleared Bryson, Downs, and Kennedy on the sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress claims. It rejected the libel claims against Canepari, Bryson, and Downs. It found that the Town of Wilton was not liable for negligence.
Because the jury found no liability, it did not reach immunity, vicarious liability, or damages. Pal recovered nothing.
On September 25, 2026, the Court entered judgment for the Defendants and closed the case.
Court Documents:
Documents are available for purchase upon request at [email protected]
